CG& notes Inspiring Children Through Exposure To Music ommended for children ages 4 to 8. To learn more about these and other musical, educational products, visit www.fisher-price.com. Of course, toys are not the only way to inspire children’s musical creativity and enhance learning. (NAPSA)—Thereis a growing body of evidence that early exposure to music can foster a child’s development. Whether that means having youngsters listen to the classics or classic rock, or letting little ones make musicof their own, it’s clear that a tuneful upbringing is hitting the right notes with both parents and educators. Exposing children to music not Parents can incorporate play tips I Can Play Piano™ from FisherPrice uses color-coded keys and new technology called Piano Wizard in its song-and-game cartridges, turning standard sheet music into a colorful game with fun, moving imagesthat tell kids what note to play and when to such as these into regular routines at homeor on the go: Try a tape recorder. Press “record” and tape your child’s singing or baby’s babbling. Then play it back and enjoy the look of amazement on yourchild’s face: “That’s me!” Strike up the band.Collect a number of noise-making items from the kitchen and place them on the floor. Show your child how to make a variety of sounds— pounding, tapping, beating, shaking, rattling and rolling. Ball beat. Use your little one’s ability to pound and make noise to promote listening skills, rhythm and understanding of cause and effect. Place a large, soft ball (no smaller than a baseball if a baby) in your child’s hands. Sing a favorite song and tap the beat on the ball with your handsas you sing. Inviting music into a child’s The Laugh & Learn Baby Grand Piano is designed for children ages 9 months to 3 years, neous sing-alongs—helps set the stage for a lifetime of learning and only helps them engage in early self-expression (moving to the beat) but also aids listening skills (as they distinguish rhythm andbeat). Whenlearning is set to music, it really engages children and becomes more memorable. Remember how you learned your ABCs? There is also a variety of toys on the market that can help set your baby Beethoven on a melodic path by introducing musical concepts such as tempo, pitch and styles. The Laugh & Learn™ Baby Grand Piano from Fisher-Price teaches those elements, along with early learning skills such as numbers, colors and opposites. Babies are encouraged to play and learn and are rewarded with light-up and sing-along songs. This realistic experience fosters growth and progress both musically and intellectually. As a child gets older and more familiar with musical concepts, learning how to play an instrument, such as a piano, and read- Musical toys for children are striking just the right notes with parents who wantto exposetheir young onesto music. ing music are the next steps. An innovative new piano system lets youngsters plug a three-octave piano keyboard into any television to create a plug-and-play piano system. play it. while the I Can Play Pianois rec- life—through basic activities, toys, musical instruments or spontaenrichment.
